p. 19 | An Interesting Occasion in Singapore by Nettie Mills

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 22, 1908

An Interesting Occasion in Singapore

By Nettie Mills

ON Thursday morning, June 25, a company of about thirty Sabbath-keepers sailed across the waters of Singapore harbor to a quiet and shady spot, for the purpose of witnessing the burial in baptism of seven precious souls.

In conducting the ceremony, Brother G. F. Jones announced the scriptures in English, and read and commented upon them in Malay, after which one of our Chinese brethren read the same from his Chinese Bible. In this way all present were benefited by the service. After prayer had been offered in the same three languages, the congregation joined in singing the hymn, “I Will Follow Thee, My Saviour,” as the candidates were buried with their Lord in baptism.

Brother Chan and wife, who were the first to be led to the water’s edge, are the parents of our young Chinese lady canvasser. For more than a year they have taken a very active part in interesting Chinese in the truth for these days. They, with their daughter, are planning to go to Penang, where they will continue the same work they have been doing in Singapore. Their eldest son also was baptized on this occasion. He has been assisting in the tract society work for several months.

The remaining four were young men from our school, one of whom was formerly a student in China, under Brother Keh, and after coming to Singapore was a preacher among the Chinese Presbyterians. He will now visit the Chinese of Singapore, and work up an interest among them.

Another of these four was a young Chinese of about seventeen years of age, who has been our mainstay in the general industrial work at the school for a number of months, and has proved himself faithful in every particular.

Ezekiel and Gaius, who are from Batakland, Sumatra, were the other two. We have every reason to believe that all these individuals are sincere in the step which they have taken, and it did our hearts good to see them go forward in this ordinance. We regret that Immanuel was not here to take part also.

While we sailed to and from the place of baptism, songs of praise and thanksgiving ascended to God from the happy company.

On the Friday evening following, about the same number gathered in the mission house at the beginning of the Sabbath to take part in the ordinances of the Lord’s house.

On both these occasions we were forcibly impressed with the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim [China].” Several distinct nationalities were represented at these gatherings, which reminded us of the great gathering when representatives from all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people shall come to worship before God. We trust many more from this place will yet take their stand among God’s people. Pray that this may be so.

NETTIE MILLS.